Haynesworth 'sick' of constant strife

UPDATE -- 12:33 p.m. Tuesday. The Redskins announced that Albert Haynesworth had been suspended for the remaining four games without pay for "conduct detrimental to club."

Albert Haynesworth hasn't been playing a lot for the Redskins lately but he sure had a lot to say about the team Monday night.

During a 30-minute interview with the 'Kevin &amp; Rock Show''on 106.7 The Fan, Haynesworth denied being hung over at last Friday's practice, said he was ready to play Sunday against the Giants, doesn't want to be released and wants the 'doggone leash' taken off him.

'It makes me sick. I'm sick of it,' Haynesworth said of the season-long saga. 'It's just too much stuff going on right now, too much stuff that doesn't have anything to do with football. Let's concentrate on playing football, which is what we're paid to do and win games. That's what Mr. Dan Snyder wants, that's what I want, and hopefully that's what other people want.'

Haynesworth said he won't meet with coach Mike Shanahan Tuesday. Shanahan said earlier today he would meet with Haynesworth before the team returned to practice Wednesday.

The highlights of the interview:

Of the hung over rumors, Haynesworth said: 'Yeah, I went out Thursday but left early because I wasn't feeling good and went home. ' For these people to make up lies to make look bad, it's ridiculous. I think they're cowards and if they have something to say, they should come to my face and not run to the media.

'There is obviously somebody that doesn't like me, which is fine, but when they make up lies behind my back, then I have something to say.

'Be a man. If you've got something to say to me, say it to my face. ' The bottom line Sunday, I was ready to play and could have played and wanted to play.'

On his playing time: 'Getting 14 snaps is not helping anything.'

In reality, Haynesworth is averaging 25.5 snaps of playing time in his eight games.

Haynesworth seemed to be in denial about having a bad practice.

'They said I didn't practice well,' he said. 'OK, I didn't have a good practice. It's not the end of the world. When it comes to Sunday, I'm out there making plays.'

He later added: 'If I didn't have a good practice, OK, sue me. That doesn't mean I can't play on Sunday.'

Haynesworth relayed his side of the events Friday morning. He said he was due at 8 a.m. and walked into Jim Haslett's meeting 'at 8:01 a.m.,' and said he was immediately told to report to Shanahan's office.

After 10-15 minutes, Haynesworth said he walked in Haslett's meeting.

Haynesworth said nobody from the Redskins has approached him about being released.

'Nobody wants to be cut,' he said. 'I do want to be treated fairly and I do want to play. They pay me to play and I want to show I can play. They paid me this money; let me play the way I played in Tennessee. All they have to do is take off the doggone leash and you'll see how good I am.

'It's not my choice about his role, it's their choice. All I want to do is play football. Let me play football. Let me great at it. Let me accomplish my goals.'

He reiterated that he is not a fit for the nose tackle in a 3-4 scheme.

'I'm just not good at it,' Haynesworth said. 'It completely changes the style of my game.

'I'm a guy that attacks and knocks back blockers. I penetrate. I get into the backfield. I cause havoc. I try to disrupt plays. The nose tackle follows the offensive line. Whichever way the center goes, the nose has to get in front of that guy and going sideways down the line. It's completely different. You want me to be disruptive and then go sideways? It's impossible to do.

'You pay me to be the best defensive tackle and then you change my position and think it's going to be the same production out of me? It's not going to happen.'

Haynesworth didn't get personal in his haymakers, especially staying away from any Shanahan-related topics.

He did fire one salvo, though, when asked if he should say something to the coaches about his role.

'You think at some point they would get it, not me having to go upstairs and say it,' Haynesworth said.